The Index (before battle)
Four of us, in total. We arrived as Faust said we would.
This is our assigned destination... we made it without any complications.
Executive Manager, the Golden Bough's location is...?
<It's not here. But it's not far, either.>
The plan dictates that we are to hold this position until the LCA arrives, then mobilize to secure the Golden Bough.
<Yeah, that's the plan.>
<Though... I'm not sure we should just sit here and wait...>
You must withdraw further to the back, Manager. This individual's mask and outfit suggest that he is the Nursefather of the Index mentioned during the briefing.
The room we arrived through the Backdoor was...
You're home.
I was just thinking about you.
... a room where the Index's Nursefather was waiting for Ryōshū with a beaming smile.
Though... something about his mask gave the smile a chilling edge.
.......
Whenever I miss you, sweetheart...
... I run my fingers along the grooves of the burn mark you've seared into my face.
It's bumpy on this side, but grainy like wet sand on the other side. Like the trace of waves rolling across the shoreline.
The Index Nursefather caressed the smooth surface of his mask.
Seeing you here... it makes my face burn and ache.
My daughter. Where is she?
Ryōshū asked in a quiet voice, as though she couldn't care less about anything else he had to say.
Araya... She loved you so much.
I hope you can still recall her face. You'd wielded that sword with such abandon that day, hadn't you?
Only I... should've been able to open that vault.
Are you sure, sweetheart? I'm sure you know better than that.
It was crafty of you, though.
You'd always disappear and hide whenever Shiomi poured out her resentment toward you.
Back then, I thought you had a particular talent in the game of hide-and-seek.
When the truth was as simple as that exceptional sense in your shared blood activating the special Time Vault.
...!
The Dihui Star... So she's the one who opened the vault. She took Araya.
It's no surprise you'd arrive at that conclusion. After all, she's always hated you. And she had the least commitment to her duties.
That hatred was born from a festering pit where no hopes nor desires remained... because she abandoned her own future.
Now, come sit here. Shall I read you a picture book?
.......
You used to really love fairytale time, when you were but a child.
Until one day, you gave me the cold shoulder and just walked straight into your room. Said you were too old for "stuff like that."
Fuck off with your bullshit.
Just answer my question.
You're trying to skip ahead.
Remember how we never finished our books? We'd always save the ending for later.
I don't know if you were aware, but I had all of them bookmarked.
So that, should you come to long for those moments again, we could pick them up right where we left off.
"... and that's how it was. Then, the monkey said - "
.......
Dad, I'm 13.
What's that, sweetheart? But I thought you were still 5!
.......
I'm only joking. I don't suppose you found that very funny.
Of course, I know you're 13 years and 7 months old.
Yeah. Way past picture books...
And who says you can't read fairytales once you're past a certain age?
Here, literally. It says "For ages 3~8."
That's just a recommendation, sweetie.
I read nothing but these picture books myself.
... You're weird. I thought adults didn't read picture books.
That's an unfair preconception constructed by grown-ups who take too much pride in being able to read books without pictures.
How are we to know only from words...
... the shape of the monkey's eyes, their colors... what the animal looks like when it laughs?
That's why I become so anxious whenever I read parts unaccompanied by pictures.
Afraid that my imagination may be different from the reality the author had defined.
And you, sweetie...
... you like these books too, don't you?
... I don't hate them.
Can we just move on to the next page? What happens to the monkey?
.......
Let's stop here today and pick up next time.
It's always best to save the endings for later, isn't it?
You say that all the time, but we haven't finished a single book.
I wanna know what happened after the monkey and the frog raced.
All in due time, darling. That's what the pinky swear was for.
.......
If you lie to me...
Yes. I'll swallow a thousand needles.
... How far are you willing to go, sweetie?
As far as it takes.
I like the sound of that.
It's almost like you're ready to give up everything you have for your dear old man.
Where did you hide the child?
Somewhere far, far away from your hands.
That sword can't sever the spiders' thread, sweetheart.
You could hack away for days with the keenest blade you have, but it won't break...
... It's just that resilient.
Sweetheart...
You should quit smoking.
Never managed to kick the habit, did you?
.......
I suppose that's where you take after the Dihui Star, hm?
That's blood ties for you.
You'd always cough your lungs out whenever Shiomi lit up a cigarette.
But the moment you grew up into an adult, you started walking down the same path as her.
What other choice do I have but be the guiding hand that brings you back to the right path?
Sweetie, if you want to find Araya, pay a visit to the Dihui Star.
Let me open a path that'll get you there. Looks like we're about to have more visitors.
All Proselytes in the area have been neutralized.
Mobilize to retrieve the Golden Boughs as planned, LCB.
.......
That man...
You can't hope to predict his moves.
Don't bother figuring out his patterns.
.......
Let's each worry about our own missions first.
... To positions.
The target is alone, but he is a Proxy of the Index, and was once a Star of the City all on his own. Prepare to throw everything we have at him.
.......
Darling, I know these memories may have been burned away with my face, but...
... let me share some of them with you.
The child has black hair. And her height came up to somewhere a little above your knees.
And when she smiles, she flashes her still-growing baby teeth.
She loved her bright red randoseru bag... and she loved you.
.......
Description alone doesn't paint the clearest picture, does it?
That's why I've only ever read picture books.